Adhesive applicator

ABSTRACT

This invention is directed to a machine for automatically applying a continuous stripe of adhesive to one face of an irregularly shaped object, such as a shoe heel or sole, in which the adhesive stripe is located uniformly at a predetermined distance inwardly from the side edges. The object is releasably secured to a one revolution turntable, and an applicator nozzle is mounted adjacent the exposed surface and is automatically moved toward or away from the geometric center of the exposed face of the object in accordance with changes in the edge contours thereof as the object is being rotated. The edges of the object are used to control or direct the movement of the applicator nozzle.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Gordon Gauvin; 2,977,924 4/1961 Bender et al 1 [8/8 Arnold Jafle; Albert Warner Armstrong, 3,286,683 11/1966 Fuller et a1 1 l8/8 UX all of Amsterdam. N.Y. 3,333,571 8/1967 Kokinda 118/318 [21] A pplv No. 788,133 3,339,522 9/1967 Shaffer et al. 7. 118/321 UX [22] filled Dec. 31, 3,403,658 10/1968 Damm et al. 118/409 X [45] atented Aug. 3, 1 l [73] Assignee Fownes Brothers & Co, Incorporated jnmary gg g st??? E T New York, Ny- Ilorneys ar es ax ey an omas ate [54] ADHESIVE APPLICATOR 3 claims 8 Dn'ing Fm ABSTRACT: This invention 15 directed to a machine for automatically applying a continuous stripe of adhesive to one face U.S. f an irregularly ha ed object such as a shoe heel o 501e in 118/321 which the adhesive stripe is located uniformly at a predeterhltmined di tan e inwardly from the side edges The object is 305C 5/00 releasably secured to a one revolution turntable, and an ap- [50] Field of Search 1 18/8, 321, plicatm nozzle is mounted adjacent the exposed fa and is 4091 automatically moved toward or away from the geometric center of the exposed face of the object in accordance with {56] References cued changes in the edge contours thereof as the object is being UNITED STATES PATENTS rotated. The edges of the object are used to control or direct 2,880,697 4/ 1959 Blanding et al. 1 18/8 X the movement of the applicator nozzle.

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INVbNI 0R5 GORDON GAUV/N ARNOLD \JAFFE A. WARNER ARMSTRDNG ADHESIVE APPLICATOR THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in adhesive applicators and particularly seeks to provide a novel machine for automatically applying a stripe of hot melt adhesive to the concave surface of a shoe heel or to a shoe sole at a uniform distance from the outer edges thereof.

One of the operations in the manufacture of many types of modern shoes or slippers is the gluing of heels to the heel lifts or soles to the uppers of the shoes, as distinguished from nailing or sewing that has been common practice in the past. Glued heels and soles have become practical as the result of advances in adhesive technology and enable savings in time, material and labor in the manufacture of certain types of shoes. However, most shoe heels that are adaptable to gluing techniques are not only irregular in shape but generally have concave inner faces in order to provide voids or cavities adjacent the heel lifts for the reception of adhesive, and these combined physical features heretofore have made it extremely diflicult toautomatically apply the right amount of adhesive to a heel in the proper places. Proper assembly of a heel to its heel lift requires that the heel be secured to the lift around its entire periphery without causing any adhesive to be expressed beyond the edges of the heel when the heel is pressed into position on the heel lift, or without leaving a nonadhesive void around any part of the periphery of the seam between the heel and heel lift.

The above-described conditions frequently arise when the adhesive is manually a'pplied'to the heels or individual gobs deposited in the general central areas thereof.

Comparable problems are faced in the gluing of shoe soles.

These problems are overcome through the use 'of an adhesive applicator constructed in accordance with this invention.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a machine for automatically applying a measured stripe of adhesive to the inner face of a shoe heel or of a shoe sole at a predetermined and fixed distance from its peripheral edges whereby to permit the heel or sole to be fitted onto an associated shoe part without expressing excess adhesive to the outside thereof or without creating adhesive-free voids around any part of the periphery of the seam between the heel or sole and the associated shoe part.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character stated that includes a one revolution turntable to which a heel is releasably secured with its concave face exposed, a sensitive follower that contacts the edge of the heel as it is rotated and causes an adhesive applicator mounting plate, that carries an applicator nozzle, to pivot back and forth in conformity to the movement of the follower whereby to deposit a uniform stripe of adhesive on the exposed face of the heel at a uniform distance inwardly of its periphery.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character stated that applies a hot melt adhesive to the heel with virtually instant cutoff at the applicator nozzle so that 'no excess adhesive is applied to the heel.

A'further object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character stated in which the discharge of the adhesived heel from its supporting turntable is subjected to a slight time lag in order to catch any minute dripping of adhesive from the applicator nozzle after cutoff, thereby preventing the turntable from become fouled with adhesive.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character stated in which the movement of the applicator mounting plate is effected by a double-acting hydraulic cylinder controlled by the sensing follower through a servo valve and hydraulic pump unit.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character stated that is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

With these and other objects, the nature of which will be apparent, the invention will be more fully understood by reference to. the drawings, the accompanying detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an adhesive applicator constructed in accordance with this invention and shows the parts as they appear at the start of an application cycle;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the parts as they appear at an intermediate phase of the application cycle;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the applicator;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail elevation of one form of heel clamp for the applicator;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail elevation of another form of heel clamp therefor;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top plan' view of a heel to which a stripe of adhesive has been applied;

FIG. 7 is a transverse vertical section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for the control system for the applicator.

Referring to the drawings in detail the invention, as illustrated, is embodied in an applicator for applying hot melt adhesives to shoe heels and? includes a table top 5 which supports a generally L-shaped pivot plate 6 maintained in spaced parallel relation with respect thereto by a stud 7 and bearing 8 located adjacent the right front comer of the plate. If desired, the free end of the plate 6 may be independently supported to prevent sagging, but such a support is. unnecessary if the stud 7 and bearing 8 are made sufficiently strong.

The pivot plate 6 is adapted to be oscillated through a relatively small are by a double acting hydraulic cylinder 9 located adjacent the free end of the plate and having one end adjustably and pivotally secured to the table top 5 and its piston rod 10 pivotally connected as at 11 to a clevis I2 extending outwardly from the adjacent end of the plate 6 and rigidly af fixed thereto. Activation of the cylinder 9 is controlled by a command pot, servo valve and hydraulic pump as will be hereinafter more fully described.

A servo valve command pot 13 is secured to the upper face of the pivot plate 6 and is provided with a depending oscillata ble stub shaft 14 which carries a laterally projecting sensing arm 15 having a hooked or curved free end 16 to which is attached a roller follower 17. A tension spring 18 constantly biases the sensing arm 15 forwardly toward contact with a limit abutment 19 so that its normal position at rest is parallel to the front and rear edges of the pivot plate 6 with the hooked end 16 of the arm extending forwardly.

A hot melt adhesive applicator unit, schematically indicated at 20, is secured to the top of the pivot plate 6 and is provided with a forwardly projecting nozzle 21 having a quickacting cutoff. The forward end of the nozzle 21 is located at a position slightly forwardly and to the left of the follower 17 on the sensing arm 15 in order to apply a continuous stripe of adhesive just inward of the edge of a shoe heel positioned there beneath as will be hereinafter more fully described.

A horizontal turntable 22 (see FIGS. 3,4 & S) is affixed to the upper end of a vertical shaft 23 joumaled in the table top 5 and is adapted to be driven in one revolution cycles by a suitable motor (not shown) controlled by a cam 23 on the shaft 22 and a fixed position limit switch 24 actuated by the cam. Obviously, other means such as a single revolution clutch could be used in place of the above-described cam and limit switch control means. The area and shape of the turntable is not critical so long as adequate support is provided for the full range of shapes and sizes of the objects to be subjected to this operation.

In FIG. 4 of the drawings there is shown one form of clamp for holding a shoe heel 25 in place on the turntable 22. In this form a laterally extending clamp arm 26 has one end pivotally connected as to 27 to an upstanding stud or clevis 28 affixed to the top of the table 5 and its other or free end terminating in a downtumed finger 29 overlying the center of the turntable 22. An air cylinder 30 is used to pivot the clamp arm 26 into and out of heel clamping position.

As schematically indicated in FIG. 5 of the drawings, vacuum means could also be employed to retain the heel 25 on the turntable 22 and would be employed whenever the machine is to apply adhesive to the shoe soles. In this case the center area of the turntable would have to be provided with one or more vacuum ports, the shaft 23 would have to be hollow, and a rotary joint 31 would have to be fitted to the shaft 23 for connection to a source of vacuum 32.

FIG. 8 of the drawings schematically indicates the overall operating system for this machine from which it will be seen that movement of the sensing arm will be sensed by the command pot l3 and a signal will be transmitted through a control panel 33 to a servo valve 34 to actuate the hydraulic cylinder 9 to pivot the pivot plate in the proper direction. Fluid under pressure is supplied to the servo valve 34 and the cylinder 9 from a hydraulic pump unit 35.

in operation, the shoe heel is placed on the turntable 22 with its concave face exposed and with that edge point that is closest to the geometric center of the face in contact with the roller follower 17 of the sensing arm 15. A start button (not shown) on the control panel is pushed, and after a predetermined timelag to permit the clamp arm 26 to move into heel clamping position, the turntable 22 commences its single revolution and simultaneously hot melt adhesive is released from the applicator nozzle 21 to apply a continuous stripe 36 of adhesive to the exposed heel face at a predetermined uniform distance from the edges thereof (see FIGS. 6 & 7).

This uniform spacing of the adhesive stripe 36 from the edges of the heel 25 is achieved by oscillating the pivot plate 6 back and forth under the control of the sensing arm 15 as the turntable 22 continues to rotate and the follower l7 rides the, changing contours of the heel edges. Thus FIG. 1 shows the relative positions of the heel and machine parts at the start of an adhesive application cycle and the follower 17- is at the innermost contour point of the heel edge (i.e. closest to the geometric center of the heel face) and the tip of the nozzle 21 overlies the heel face at a predetermined distance, say about three-sixteenths inch, in from the edge.

Assuming that the turntable has rotated counterclockwise so that the heel will be in the position shown in FIG. 2, it will be seen that the distance from the geometric center of the heel to the point of contact with the follower 17 is greater than the corresponding distance in FIG. 1, so that unless the nozzle 21 were moved rearwardly as this distance increases the adhesive stripe applied thereby would move progressively inwardly from the heel edge and the desired uniform spacing from the heel edge would be lost. To put it another way, if the nozzle 21 remains stationary as the heel rotates it would only apply a cir cle of adhesive stripe to the heel having undesirable varying distances from the heel edges.

However, in actuality, the follower 17 accurately delineates the contour changes of the heel edges and causes a corresponding oscillation of the sensing arm 15 and a corresponding answering oscillation of the pivot plate 6 through the command pot 13, control panel 33, servo valve 34 and hydraulic cylinder 9 to move the nozzle 21 rearwardly and forwardly as the heel 25 is rotated so that the adhesive stripe is always applied at a uniform distance from the heel edges.

At the end of one revolution of the turntable the clamp arm 26 (or vacuum) is releasedand after a slight time delay, the sensing arm 15, under control of thecontrol panel 33 ejects the adhesived heel from the turntable 22 either onto the table top 5 or into a receiving tray (not shown).

it will be appreciated from the foregoing description that once the nozzle 21 is set to apply a stripe of adhesive at any predetermined distance in from the edge of any given shoe heel or sole, it will be able to apply a similar adhesive stripe, at the same edge distance, to any other heel or sole regardless of size of edge configuration, because in every instance it is the cam for the oscillation of the pivot plate 6 and its associated applicator nozzle 21. v he quantity of adhesive laid down may be varied by proper adjustment of the hot melt unit 20, and the position of the adhesive stripe on the heel or sole may be varied either by adjusting the nozzle per se, by repositioning the hot melt unit 20 on the pivot plate 6, or by adjusting either the position or stroke of the hydraulic cylinder 9.

It will be further understood that although in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the turntable rotatesabout a fixed axis and the pivot plate 6 oscillates in response to changes in the edge contours of the heel, the same effects would be obtained if the plate 6 were fixed and the turntable mounted as a floating" assembly that would be caused to either reciprocate or oscillate as the result of having the heel edges contact a fixed roller follower. This latter arrangement is considered to be less desirablesince it would require an easily movable, delicately balanced, turntable and clamp assembly, otherwise overly great radial forces would have to be applied to the edges of the heel during its rotation in order to effect movement of that assembly.

It is of course to be understood that variations in arrangements and proportions of parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims, and that the principles of this invention are equally applicable to apply adhesive to objects other than shoe heels whenever it is desired to apply a continuous stripe of adhesive to one face of an object at a predetermined distance inwardly of its edges.

We claim: I

1. In a machine for applying a continuous stripe of adhesive to one face of an object having side edge portions located at varying distances from the geometric center of said face, said adhesive being applied at a predetermined distance inwardly.

from said edge portions; a turntable, means for releasably securing said object to said turntable with at least the edge portions of one face thereof exposed, means to rotate said turntable at least one full revolution, an adhesive applicator nozzle preset to apply adhesive to a given position on the exposed face of said object at a predetermined distance from the adjacent edge thereof, means to expel a continuous supply-of adhesive from said nozzle during each revolution of said turntable, and means to cause said nozzle to move toward or away from the geometric center of the exposed face of said object in accordance with changes in the edge contours thereof assaid object is being rotated, said nozzle moving means including a pivot plate for supporting said nozzle, a sensing arm pivotally mounted beneath said pivot plate in parallelism therewith and having one end positionable against the edge of an object when supported by said turntable for sensing changes in the contour of said edge, and means responsive to changes in the positions of said sensing arm for causing said pivot plate to be pivoted accordingly and move said nozzle in the required direction and proper distance to maintain said adhesive stripe at a predetermined distance inwardly from the edge of said object as it is being rotated by said turntable.

2. The machine of claim 1 in which said object securing means is a mechanically actuated clamp arm having a fingerlike free end adapted to engage said object in axial alignment with the center of rotation of said turntable.

3. The machine of claim 1 in which said means for causing said pivot plate to be pivoted includes a command pot mounted on said pivot plate and operably connected to said sensing arm for detecting and signalling any pivotal movement thereof, a servo valve operable in response to signals from said command pot, and an actuating cylinder operably connected to said pivot plate for pivoting same under the control of said servo valve. 

1. In a machine for applying a continuous stripe of adhesive to one face of an object having side edge portions located at varying distances from the geometric center of said face, said adhesive being applied at a predetermined distance inwardly from said edge portions; a turntable, means for releasably securing said object to said turntable with at least the edge portions of one face thereof exposed, means to rotate said turntable at least one full revolution, an adhesive applicator nozzle preset to apply adhesive to a given position on the exposed face of said object at a predetermined distAnce from the adjacent edge thereof, means to expel a continuous supply of adhesive from said nozzle during each revolution of said turntable, and means to cause said nozzle to move toward or away from the geometric center of the exposed face of said object in accordance with changes in the edge contours thereof as said object is being rotated, said nozzle moving means including a pivot plate for supporting said nozzle, a sensing arm pivotally mounted beneath said pivot plate in parallelism therewith and having one end positionable against the edge of an object when supported by said turntable for sensing changes in the contour of said edge, and means responsive to changes in the positions of said sensing arm for causing said pivot plate to be pivoted accordingly and move said nozzle in the required direction and proper distance to maintain said adhesive stripe at a predetermined distance inwardly from the edge of said object as it is being rotated by said turntable.
 2. The machine of claim 1 in which said object securing means is a mechanically actuated clamp arm having a fingerlike free end adapted to engage said object in axial alignment with the center of rotation of said turntable.
 3. The machine of claim 1 in which said means for causing said pivot plate to be pivoted includes a command pot mounted on said pivot plate and operably connected to said sensing arm for detecting and signalling any pivotal movement thereof, a servo valve operable in response to signals from said command pot, and an actuating cylinder operably connected to said pivot plate for pivoting same under the control of said servo valve. 